Irish Hockey

Celtic Cup

A SECOND half strike from Belfast Harlequins' star Suzanne Beaney clinched Ireland a 1-0 win over Wales as they opened their defence of the Celtic Cup in sun-splashed Edinburgh yesterday.

Ulster's Hannah Bowe made her senior international debut when she was introduced as a first half substitute.

But the victory was over-shadowed by ankle injuries sustained by two of Ireland's key players.

Beaney's club-mate Jenny McDonough, who was to have earned her 50th cap yesterday, has ligament damage after a training accident.

Carey, meanwhile, was stretchered off in the first half of the game and both players have been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

However, it's thought that both will be fit in time for the European Nations Cup tournament inDublin next month.

Yesterday Ireland failed to convert superiority into goals.

Linda Caulfield missed from the penalty spot after a foul on Cathy McKean; Beaney had a first half goal disallowed and the second half saw Ireland squander yet more chances.

But Beaney got the overdue breakthrough with six minutes remaining when she rifled the ball home from an acute angle after an Emma Stewart shot had rebounded off the post.

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